There are countless ways the MAGA maniacs are harming the world. Climate, environment need to be at the top of the list of atrocities. Suffering and death around the world (and here!) as we withdraw our help of food and medicine - that's my number 2. The destruction of democracy, decency and the rule of law...competes with number 2.
But the damage we should also talk about is the psychological wreckage to the world's psyche. Nobody should wake up and worry about the daily horror of a vicious monster obsessed with vengeance occupying the White House. Nobody should worry if their Social Security check will arrive. Nobody should worry that ICE might be the one knocking on the door. Nobody should worry that a billionaire asshole psycho could bring the economy crashing down. The list is so long...
So while I am truly angry at the horrors I just mentioned, the general sense of unease, of fear, of an anxiety I have never felt in 77 years - that is our collective trauma. The closest thing to this attack on our mental health is worrying about "the bomb".
MAGA must pay for this crime of mental torture. I am old. But I am not done fighting. I am pissed off like never before.
Thanks for sharing your feelings. Glad you are "back".
On November 5th I felt run over by a Mack truck. And that truck has been backing up over us again and again and again. Time for it to run out of gas, have flat tires and be taken to the scrap heap for compaction.
Glad you mentioned the climate. The effects of climate change will do damage. They already have. Trump's actions will result in more CO2 in the atmosphere and undo any reductions we've made.
I wouldn't exactly agree that everything bar death is reparable, but I take your point.
I'd just like to make one other small but important note re: "Twenty million Russians were killed by the Germans, but the remaining 140 million fought on."
Soviet Russia occupied Ukraine - and several other countries - at the time... Many of those killed were not Russians! Which isn't to downplay Russian suffering or bravery during WWII, but is to ensure that we don't continue to overlook those of other countries subjugated by those more powerful.
Thank you for your more nuanced account. When one is attempting to present a thumbnail overview of World War II, it is hard to decide what level of granularity to settle on. I also thought, this overview totally leaves out Asia and the Pacific!
True. I should clarify that I didn't for a moment think you would deliberately try to downplay Ukraine's role and history or that you'd disagree with my note... But I thought it was an important note to make 'for the record'!
Glad to hear that your parts, brain and body, have been reunited again.
Traces of WWII may be hard to find, but the same is not true of WWI. Our trip to Belgium and northern France in 2015, in the footsteps of the war poets, was perhaps the toughest I’ve ever made because the traces were easy to find once you started looking. There were places that were still off limits because of likely buried unexploded ordinance. Vimy Ridge, in particular, with its acres of green-softened trenches, was particularly moving.
Re WWII and cathedrals, any intention to spare them overall made the fireboming of Dresden and the destruction of Coventry Cathedral all the more scandalous and their rebirth all the more encouraging.
And on this 109th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Dublin, it feels fitting to note that bullet scars are still visible on the columns of the GPO and the O’Connell monument.
Welcome back! As you already know, you have to train your reaction to phobias and crises. And that's exactly what you've done whenever you're faced with a challenge. Seeking personal growth is a GREAT reaction to a crisis!
Regarding your father's story, I do wonder how someone with a fear of flying ended up in the Air Force Band.
Different people have different modes of operating, and we're fortunate that some ponder and decide slowly like you do, while others spring into action as we need both a longer view and quick response in many cases in my opinion.
BTW, I was in Germany after the war, 1953, when I was 10. A traveling, middle class family from America. Quite an oddity. I saw whole neighborhoods of buildings that had no centers, just shells as the Allies used incendiary bombs so nothing was left but an outer wall or two per building as a reminder. In 8 years, almost nothing, in Dusseldorf at least, had been rebuilt. When I returned as an adult in 1971, there wasn't a trace of WWII that I saw, except the gates of Dachau outside of Munich, and just the sight freaked me out so much I made the driver drive off immediately. My only possible action was to put my head down so I couldn't see it. There are some things you just don't want entering your consciousness. But I saw no such damage in France, Italy or England, at least that stands out in my 72 year old memories. And St. Paul's was spared as I recall, as were most of the great cathedrals throughout Europe. I don't know if it was more of a fear of threatening God, or a reverence for history and architecture, but I'm grateful.
Such a very good piece to read apart from the fact that you had to deal with those distressing circumstances!
I’m not 100% sure but I don’t think that during the Nazi bombing of London that St Paul’s was ever hit… what a bonus for such a beautiful Cathedral! Keep safe & well! x
There are countless ways the MAGA maniacs are harming the world. Climate, environment need to be at the top of the list of atrocities. Suffering and death around the world (and here!) as we withdraw our help of food and medicine - that's my number 2. The destruction of democracy, decency and the rule of law...competes with number 2.
But the damage we should also talk about is the psychological wreckage to the world's psyche. Nobody should wake up and worry about the daily horror of a vicious monster obsessed with vengeance occupying the White House. Nobody should worry if their Social Security check will arrive. Nobody should worry that ICE might be the one knocking on the door. Nobody should worry that a billionaire asshole psycho could bring the economy crashing down. The list is so long...
So while I am truly angry at the horrors I just mentioned, the general sense of unease, of fear, of an anxiety I have never felt in 77 years - that is our collective trauma. The closest thing to this attack on our mental health is worrying about "the bomb".
MAGA must pay for this crime of mental torture. I am old. But I am not done fighting. I am pissed off like never before.
Thanks for sharing your feelings. Glad you are "back".
On November 5th I felt run over by a Mack truck. And that truck has been backing up over us again and again and again. Time for it to run out of gas, have flat tires and be taken to the scrap heap for compaction.
Thanks, Bill!
Glad you mentioned the climate. The effects of climate change will do damage. They already have. Trump's actions will result in more CO2 in the atmosphere and undo any reductions we've made.
Very pleased you're well again!
I wouldn't exactly agree that everything bar death is reparable, but I take your point.
I'd just like to make one other small but important note re: "Twenty million Russians were killed by the Germans, but the remaining 140 million fought on."
Soviet Russia occupied Ukraine - and several other countries - at the time... Many of those killed were not Russians! Which isn't to downplay Russian suffering or bravery during WWII, but is to ensure that we don't continue to overlook those of other countries subjugated by those more powerful.
Thank you for your more nuanced account. When one is attempting to present a thumbnail overview of World War II, it is hard to decide what level of granularity to settle on. I also thought, this overview totally leaves out Asia and the Pacific!
True. I should clarify that I didn't for a moment think you would deliberately try to downplay Ukraine's role and history or that you'd disagree with my note... But I thought it was an important note to make 'for the record'!
Glad to hear that your parts, brain and body, have been reunited again.
Traces of WWII may be hard to find, but the same is not true of WWI. Our trip to Belgium and northern France in 2015, in the footsteps of the war poets, was perhaps the toughest I’ve ever made because the traces were easy to find once you started looking. There were places that were still off limits because of likely buried unexploded ordinance. Vimy Ridge, in particular, with its acres of green-softened trenches, was particularly moving.
Re WWII and cathedrals, any intention to spare them overall made the fireboming of Dresden and the destruction of Coventry Cathedral all the more scandalous and their rebirth all the more encouraging.
And on this 109th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Dublin, it feels fitting to note that bullet scars are still visible on the columns of the GPO and the O’Connell monument.
Welcome back! As you already know, you have to train your reaction to phobias and crises. And that's exactly what you've done whenever you're faced with a challenge. Seeking personal growth is a GREAT reaction to a crisis!
Regarding your father's story, I do wonder how someone with a fear of flying ended up in the Air Force Band.
When I was thinking about that story as I wrote, I was amazed that he couldn't find a different job!
Different people have different modes of operating, and we're fortunate that some ponder and decide slowly like you do, while others spring into action as we need both a longer view and quick response in many cases in my opinion.
BTW, I was in Germany after the war, 1953, when I was 10. A traveling, middle class family from America. Quite an oddity. I saw whole neighborhoods of buildings that had no centers, just shells as the Allies used incendiary bombs so nothing was left but an outer wall or two per building as a reminder. In 8 years, almost nothing, in Dusseldorf at least, had been rebuilt. When I returned as an adult in 1971, there wasn't a trace of WWII that I saw, except the gates of Dachau outside of Munich, and just the sight freaked me out so much I made the driver drive off immediately. My only possible action was to put my head down so I couldn't see it. There are some things you just don't want entering your consciousness. But I saw no such damage in France, Italy or England, at least that stands out in my 72 year old memories. And St. Paul's was spared as I recall, as were most of the great cathedrals throughout Europe. I don't know if it was more of a fear of threatening God, or a reverence for history and architecture, but I'm grateful.
Interesting memories!
There was a consensus on both sides to avoid damaging churches if possible.
Oh, I didn't know that!
Welcome back!
Glad you're back. The image is pefect!
Such a very good piece to read apart from the fact that you had to deal with those distressing circumstances!
I’m not 100% sure but I don’t think that during the Nazi bombing of London that St Paul’s was ever hit… what a bonus for such a beautiful Cathedral! Keep safe & well! x